COLLEGE PICKS: Is Georgia bound for the title game?

It’s a short slate this week, so we’re going with a short picks column.

I want to dedicate this final column of the regular season to the guy who called me a couple of years ago and told me that Ray Charles could pick football better than me.

At the time, I defended both Ray Charles (who could have been a great handicapper if you gave him the stats, who the heck knows?) and myself, pointing out that picking against the spread consistently well is harder than it sounds.

This year, my record speaks for itself.

And now, to business for the last time before the bowls. As always these are for entertainment purposes only.

FRIDAYKent State (plus-5) over Northern Illinois — You’re going to ruin MY Sugar Bowl? Fine. Do it, but I’m vulturing a win out of it.

UCLA (plus-10 1/2) over STANFORD — It’s tough to beat someone twice, which I think the Cardinal will do, but not by as much.

SATURDAYOklahoma at TCU (over-60) — Shootout City. Let’s hope the Sooners make it to that Sugar Bowl instead.

NEVADA (plus-8 1/2) over Boise State — The Broncos also have Sugar Bowl hopes — who doesn’t? — but they have struggled in Reno.

WEST VIRGINIA (minus-19 1/2) over Kansas — I can’t stress enough how bad Charlie Weis is. Florida is 11-1, and Kansas will be 1-11.

HAWAII (minus-6) over South Alabama — Norm Chow’s squad has been waking up a bit lately.

Nebraska (minus-3) over Wisconsin (at Indy) — Admiral Ackbar makes one final appearance. The Huskers are the better team.

TULSA (minus-1) over Central Florida — I’m wary on this one, but Tulsa is unbeaten at home and just beat the Knights a couple of weeks ago.

Georgia (plus 7 1/2) over Alabama (at Atlanta) — As Florida and Georgia keep winning, I keep wondering if I’ve missed the truth all along — that they are the best two teams in the country.

Last week: 10-3YTD: 84-71-1— Matthew Osborne is the editor of The Trentonian and a Heisman Trophy voter. He can be reached at 609-989-7800, ext. 201, or mosborne@trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter @trentonianozzy.